Edgewater is the home for a new spin on Chicago-style deep-dish pizza. George Bumbaris is a former coder who opened a pizzeria in the spring. He uses longer fermentation and lower oven temperatures to give the neighborhood high-quality pies that tourists would loves if they’d be willing to depart downtown for the Far North Side. The pies feature a sourdough focaccia-style crust with a caramelized cheese edge. Bumbaris told Steve Dolinsky his inspiration is a Greek bread recipe. Takeout and delivery only.

Andros Taverna is the answer for customers who wonder, “What if Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises opened another Greek restaurant?” Co-owner Doug Psaltis, a veteran chef who abruptly left LEYE, was the mastermind behind the group’s RPM series of restaurants, and has teamed up with the owners of popular Lincoln Park haunt Gemini. The dining room and bar are lively, and there’s a $22 plate of gyros for those who want to get decadent. What differentiates Andros is the pastry program from co-owner Hsing Chen, a decorated pastry chef who has been selling dessert boxes over the weekend. 

Kevin Schuder has yearned for a larger dance floor since he opened his Lakeview cafe in 2019. He finally found a Lincoln Park space with a full bar so he can serve all-day breakfast, creative pastries, and even a special vegan tasting menu. This opening is big news in the vegan community and gives Chicago a quality venue for elevated vegan cuisine.

This long awaited Logan Square cafe focuses on charcuterie and sandwiches. It’s been a smash hit since opening, drawing crowds morning, afternoon, and evening. The restaurant, the first joint effort from chef Christopher Thompson (Coda di Volpe) and Steve Lewis (Centennial Crafted Brewing), is a casual affair with a rustic European Old World feel. There’s a deep wine list and the cheese boards will keep guests coming back for more.

Former Carnivale chef Rodolfo Cuadros has seen his cooking evolve. His successful Bucktown restaurant, Amaru, continues to delight, but during the pandemic he needed new ways to make money to help his business survive. He and his family had already drastically cut their meat intake at home, and so Cuadros turned to a virtual vegan restaurant for salvation. He’s now expanded that concept into a standalone restaurant in Wicker Park with a full bar and a vegan cheese plate that’s become a crowd pleaser.

This ritzy Gold Coast Italian restaurant has brought back some sorely needed energy to downtown. Chef Soo Ahn (Band of Bohemia) has created a balanced menu where there’s plenty to feast on for vegetarians and omnivores. Find handmade pastas, decadent steaks befitting a Chicago chop house, and more.

José Andrés’ hotly anticipated Chicago restaurant is heating up River North with the celebrity chef’s successful formula he debuted at the first Jaleo in D.C: traditional tapas in a casual setting. A basement bar should debut later this year.

Joe Flamm’s dream is finally here, as the the former Spiaggia chef and Top Chef winner opened his first restaurant alongside the owners of flashy West Loop steakhouse BLVD. Flamm merges his prowess with handmade Italian pastas and Croatian techniques blending Old and New Worlds to create something unique. Reservations are recommended, because this might the most difficult table in town.

This has been one of the most anticipated restaurant openings in Chicago since pre-pandemic times. With The Exchange, DMK Restaurants aims to give Chicago something different: a Japanese-style listening bar with a state-of-the-art sound system for vinyl obsessives and a rotating menu of New American classics from Beard-nominated chef Brian Huston. In late September, the Exchange’s bar, Theo’s debuted. Look for classic cocktails and a bar menu that features Chicago-style tavern pizza.

As the Trib reports, Erica McGhee is known as the Burger Queen as she shows no fear in stacking smashed beef patties with decadent toppings. Beyond burgers, customers can find stellar mac and cheese, a sloppy joe, and chilaquiles. McGhee is looking to expand her menu soon, so it will be cool to see how this all-day brunch spot grows.

This is the second location of a Dallas restaurant that combines a trendy dining room with spaces that beg customers to make Instagram posts and upscale comfort food. It’s a genre that modernizes Southern cuisine popularized by Black America. Owner Kevin Kelley wants his new restaurant to complement Chicago’s dining scene, to be a celebratory place where diners nosh on huge chops drizzled with Asian Hennessy glaze and a cornucopia of chicken and waffle options. There’s also creative cocktails and a lounge. Reservations are recommended.

This is the rebirth of a family-owned Mexican restaurant in Archer Heights, near Midway International Airport. Solazo’s ownership learned a few lessons when it opened La Josie along Randolph Restaurant Row in West Loop. They’ve applied those lessons at their original restaurant without sacrificing the neighborhood feel. The tacos, queso, and other items have never tasted better, but now customers can enjoy amped up cocktails.

Boka Restaurant Group strikes again the West Loop with Alla Vita, its jack of all trades Italian restaurant with pastas and pizzas aimed to please a diverse audience of families, couples, and tourists along Randolph Street. The former Bellemore gets a facelift with plants, a wine installation, and a sleeker design. Reservations are recommended.